PORTSMOUTH, NH (February 11, 2009) — The regional council that sets fishery policy sided with a federal judge yesterday, asserting that Congress did not expect or want the industry brought to its knees in an effort to nurture back to health the weakest stock in the polyglot groundfish system.
In the process, the New England Fishery Management Council put itself at odds with its governmental master, the National Marine Fisheries Service, over Congress’ intent as expressed in the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the governing statute for fisheries reauthorized in 2007.
The action added yet another level of uncertainty and complexity to an industry and a fishery caught in conflict between the National Marine Fisheries Service, two states within its jurisdiction suing it, the federal judge hearing the case and the council that works for and advises NMFS on regulatory policies.
Read the Gloucester Daily Times story in full
For additional coverage from the Manchester Union-Leader see this story: New England Council Rejects Federal Regulators’ Position